Consider at least two of Tinbergen's "four questions" in relation to filial imprinting. Tinbergen's "four questions" refer to a 1963 publication by Niko Tinbergen, one of the founding fathers of behavioral biology (Giraldeau, 2012). In which he outlined four questions in the study of animal behavior, namely causality, development, function described as survival value, and evolution. Although Tinbergen's questions were not original, as questions of causality, function, and evolution had already been discussed previously by biologist Julian Huxley, Tinbergen added a fourth question to the study of animal behavior related to development (Giraldeau, 2012). The four questions are divided into two categories: proximate or causal questions and ultimate or functional questions, and are often referred to as the four whys as opposed to the questions. The questions covered different perspectives regarding animal behaviour, for example Function: observing how well an animal's behavior has adapted to survival, for example birds flying south for the winter to secure a vital food source. Also drawing on Darwin's theory of evolution to describe a trait that translates into reproductive success, with the awareness that survival may not only be the most suitable but also the most adaptable species and the functions that the animal takes on to ensure optimal success. The second of Tinbergen's questions Phylogeny examines evolutionary explanations of development, as opposed to how behavior has adapted, including mutations in response to environmental changes. Some of these mutations remain in the species even after the need has disappeared and can affect the future characteristics of that species. The third of Tinbergen's questions concerns causality,...... middle of paper... Tinbergen's additional question shows that the study of behaviors such as filial imprinting is not set in stone and that further questions and new developments will be provided an overview of the practices. Bibliography Bateson, P.K.N.., 2013. Tinbergen's four questions: an appreciation and update. Trends in ecology and evolution, pp. 1-7. Giraldeau, B.J., 2012. Mechanisms of animal behavior. sl:prudent publications.Johan, JBG .. d. Va JPK, 1990. Filial imprinting and associative learning. THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, Volume 428, pp. 313-329. Johan, J.B.R.C., 1998. Imprinting, learning and development: from behavior to the brain and back. Trends Neuroscience, Volume 306, pp. 306-311.Town, SMB, 2011. Neuronal plasticity and multisensory integration in filial imprinting. PLoS ONE, VOLUME 6(NUMBER 3), pp. 1-11.